It was the most runs scored in an A-Sun Championship
game since the 10-7 game in 1993 between Southeast Louisiana and Samford.

“I have been saying all week that I thought there were
going to be a lot of high-scoring games,” Griffin said. “We have plenty of good
teams in the conference that can hit.”

Stetson’s Meredith Owen tied the A-Sun single-game
record for runs batted in with five. It was also a career-high for Owen. It was
the fourth time a player has recorded five RBI in a championship game. The last
time was when Jacksonville’s Amanda Schmidt did it against Lipscomb in 2011.

She slammed a three-run homer over the left field
fence in the first inning against Florida Gulf Coast starter Jaclyn Owen. It
was her 11th of the season.

“It was awesome,” Owen said. “I was just looking for a
good, solid pitch to hit because we had some runners on and I knew we needed to
get them in.

“I was watching her hard core on the first few
batters. I had my confidence up a lot. I knew I could just relax in the box and
look for a good pitch. She gave me a nice one and threw everything I could into
it.”

In the third inning she connected for a two-RBI double
down the right field line with the bases loaded.

Coach Griffin points to Owen’s strength as one of the
keys to her hitting,

“Meredith had an exceptional day,” Griffin said. “She
has a nice swing and is exceptionally strong. She looks strong, but she is
definitely stronger than she looks.”

Jessica Griffin had one of the most unusual scoring
lines in the game. She had two hits and walked three times. She scored four
runs, a new single-game A-Sun Championship record. It was the most runs scored
by a player since 1991.

“For a freshman Jessica does an exceptional job of
swinging at good pitches,” Coach Griffin said. “If they are going to give her
four balls she is going to take her base.”

Owen, 22-8, went the distance in the circle for the
Hatters. It was not her typical game on the mound. She struck out six and
walked one. Four of the runs she allowed were earned.

“I am frustrated with myself,” Owen said. “I am so
happy my team was here to back me up. They saw me struggling and they did
everything they could to help me.

“Florida Gulf Coast has a fantastic hitting team. I
can’t take anything away from them. I am impressed with the way they made
adjustments in the box. But I have to make adjustments as well.”

Coach Griffin was not surprised that Owen struggled at
times in the game.

“She hadn’t pitched in a week,” Coach Griffin said.
“Part of the time she was out sick.

You will see a better performance from her
Thursday and down the road.”

Stetson scored three runs in the first, four in the
third, one in the fourth, three in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the
seventh.

“We discussed with the girls all week that they were
going to get scored on,” Coach Griffin said. “We just have to score more.

“We had a good day at the plate. They were swinging at
good pitches. We had five freshmen and two sophomores starting. That is a
sign of a good team to come.”

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